Police seek witnesses after frightening peak-hour clash

"I've been riding for 26 years and the first thing that came in to my mind this morning was today is the start of the end."

That is how John, who did want to give his last name, described his frightening peak hour clash with the driver of a four-wheel-drive utility in Melbourne’s northern suburbs on Monday.

Police are appealing to witnesses to come forward to the act of road rage, which lasted about 10 minutes.

The altercation erupted after the driver of a burgundy Toyota Hilux allegedly failed to give way to the cyclist as he was leaving a petrol station on Pascoe Vale Road, Pascoe Vale about 7.25 am.

"He saw me and pulled out a little bit," John said. "I had to swing around him to the right, go in the right lane, and as a cyclist you always close your eyes when you do that.

"I was thinking I was going to get skittled."

Police said "heated words" were exchanged between the pair. John admitted he gave the driver a piece of his mind.

"I'm allowed to defend myself, especially when it's two tonnes versus a six kilogram bike."

But the dispute did not end there. John said the driver followed him and came up beside him in the left lane.

"He had his window down and started abusing me. On three occasions he swerved left to try to tip me off. He then slowed down and got behind the bike and tried to charge me from behind with his bull bar. He got very, very close. I just kept on riding to try to keep out of his way."

The driver then veered onto the Bell Street exit. John said he rode onto the nature strip, only to see the driver do a u-turn and return to Pascoe Vale Road.

He said the driver mounted the kerb and followed him onto the nature strip.

"I have lived in the area for 45 years and have never seen anybody do a u-turn there, ever.

"I was fearful. I was absolutely 1000 per cent fearing for my life."

The driver then left John.

"I'm pretty resilient. I have had accidents. I have had little bingles and door openings, just accidents. But this has scared the bejesus out of me. I haven't even told my family yet."

Despite the ordeal, John said he would continue to ride his bike through Melbourne's northern suburbs."I've got to see if I can get back on the horse tomorrow, so to speak,’’ he said on Monday afternoon. "I need to because I'm actually training for an event in Italy in July."

She said police are appealing for witnesses in an attempt to learn more about what exactly happened.

Senior Constable Pace said although nobody stopped to offer assistance to the cyclist, she believed plenty of people would have seen the altercation. She said cars had sounded their horns in an attempt to ward off the driver.

It is understood police know the identity of the driver, who is described as being in his mid 20s, Caucasian with olive skin and wearing a fluoro work top.